Sponsored Links

FCA Confirms Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer Will Be Body-On-Frame

Sponsored Links

Earlier this year Autoline news reported the planned Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer family of large luxury vehicles had been cancelled due to the costs associated with retooling the Warren Assembly Plant to build a unibody vehicle. We then heard it had instead been delayed as FCA looked at potentially building it on the Ram 1500s body-on-frame platform.

Now Fiat Chrysler has confirmed the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will indeed arrive on a body-on-frame platform, according to Road And Track. The revelation came during an interview with Jeep brand boss Mike Manley on the floor of the 2017 Detroit auto show, with the Briton also confirming other details about the upcoming pair of SUVs.

“It’s a place we’ve been, we walked away from it, now we’re going to be strong again,” Manley said of the body-on-frame Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.

The Wagoneer will be a smaller version of the SUV, with the Grand Wagoneer serving as an extended wheelbase version – similar to General Motors’ Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban models. The Wagoneer will set the Tahoe in is crosshairs, with the more upscale Grand Wagoneer targeting luxury offerings such as the Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Range Rover. Manley said the two will span the $60,000-$100,000 price bracket.

FCA had considered building the SUVs on a larger version of Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform that serves in the Giulia and Stelvio and will also be employed in the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. High tow rating targets and the automaker’s desire to build it at its Warren Assembly Plant where it builds the Ram 1500 put the nail in the coffin of those plans, however.